Fluid control valve and electromagnetic operator therefor



W. A. RAY

Jan. 6, 1942.

FLUID CONTROL VALVE AND ELECTROMAGNETIC OPERATOR THEREFOR Filed April 15, 1940 7'0 PILOT-HEATED TflfP/VOCOUPL 55 IN VENTOR, Mu MM A 0A)? A TTORNE Y Patented Jan. 6, 1942 FLUID CONTROL VALVE AND ELECTRO- MIAGNETIC OPERATOR THEREFOR William A. Ray, Glendale, Calif.

Application April 15, 1940, Serial No. 329,719:

9 Claims.

My present invention relates to fluid control valves and to electromagnetic operators therefor.

Itis an object of my invention to provide a novel valve having a plurality 'oi'fiuid controlling means whereby,.for example, fuel supply to a main burner and to a pilot burner therefor may be controlled. Another object is the provision of a novel electromagnetic operator which, while not so limited, has particular utility inLthe control of such a valve.

In a gas burning system employing an intermittently burning main burner and a continuously burning pilot burner therefor, it is desirable to provide electrically operated safety means for stopping fuel supply to both of the burners in the event of the extinction of the pilot burner flame. Such safety means may include a thermoelectric generating device heated by the pilot burner flame, or a thermal cut-out responsive to the flame and controlling any suitable source of electric energy. It is therefore an object of my invention to provide a valve having manually operable means for supplying fuel to the pilot burner, and electromagnetic means responsive to the pilot burner flame for retaining the supply means in its open position against a bias; and automatic electromagnetically operated means for controlling fuel supply to the main burner, the automatic means being efiective only when the pilot burner supply means is in the open position.

Another object is the provision of an automatically operated electromagnetic device which, when energized, may be rendered operable or inoperable by mechanical movement of its core member. A further object is the provision of supplemental electromagnetic means for maintaining the core member in the position wherein the automatic device is operable.

Another object is the provision of an electromagnet comprising a fixed core and a mechanically movable core, and means for providing a localized magnetic flux for retaining the movable core in a predetermined position with respect to the fixed core against a force urging it to another position.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be found in the description, the drawing, and the appended claims.

For complete understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description and accompanying drawing, where- Figure 1 is a partly diagrammatic view of a burner'control system embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the electromagnetically operated valve shown in Fig. 1; and

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view of the electric and magnetic circuits of the operator shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

In Fig. l 01E the drawing, the numeral ll indicates a fluid control valve, shown in detail in Fig. 2, and connectedby a conduit l2 to amain burner 13. A pilot burner M for the'main burner, connected by a pipe [5 to an upper-part'of the valve, serves also to heat a thermopile lB-electrically connected to'the valve by wires II. The thermopile is also connected to the valve through a limit control or thermostat I8;

In Fig. 2, a ported partition l9, separating. the inlet and the outlet of a valve casing of nonmagnetic material, is provided with an annular valve seat 2| with which a' valve member, generally indicated at 22, cooperates. The valve member comprises a disk 23, of resilient material such as artificial rubber, secured between a magnetic member or armature 24 and a vaned valve guide 25 by a bolt 26. A contractile spring 21, connected to the lower end of bolt 26', urges the valve member downward to closed position, the lower straight portion of the spring extending through an opening in a boss 28'formed on the bottom wall of the casing and'being held by a' cross pin 29. A cap 30 prevents fiuid escape through the boss opening.

Secured to the valve casing is a housing 3|, of non-magnetic material, having a horizontal medial partition or wall 32 and a top cover plate 33'. Threaded at its upper end in the partition 32 is an inverted cup-shaped core member 34 of magnetic material. Secured in a concentric opening in the top wall of the member 34: is a tube 35 of non-magnetic material within which a cylindrical core 36 is reciprocable. Threaded on the upper end portion of the cylindrical core is another inverted cup-shaped core 31, between the flange 38 of which and the upper surface of core 34, a spring 39 is compressed;

A rod 40, threaded in the upper end of the cylindrical core and extending through a hollow boss 4| formed on the cover plate, carries on its outer end apush-button 42. Secured to the top of the cylindrical core by the enlarged portion 43 of' rod 40, isan arm 44. A spring 45, supplementary to the spring- 39 and compressed between button 42 and the cover plate, urges the cylindrical core, and the parts carried by it, upward. Sealing'washers 46 are provided to revent leakage around the rod 40. Means, for energizing the cores is provided by a coil 41, mounted in the cup-shaped core 34, and another coil 48, mounted on the tube 35. The coil leads 49 are brought through openings in the walls of core 34 to three terminals 50, insulatingly mounted in the side wall of the housing. The circuit connections of the coils are diagrammatically shown in Fig. 3.

Provided in an enlarged portion of the partition 32 is a supplemental valve port 5! communicating by a branch passageway 52 with the pilot burner tube l5. Controlling fuel flow through this port is a valve member 53 formed on the lower end of a rod 54, the-reduced upper end portion of which extends through an opening in the outer end of arm 44. The valve member is normally held in closed position by the force of a light spring 55 compressed between the arm and a nut 56 threaded on the upper end of the rod. When the push-button 42 is depressed, the arm 44 engages the shoulder 51 of rod 54 and moves the valve member to open position.

When the valve structure is in its normal condition, with the parts in the positions shown in Fig. 2, fuel flow to both the main and the pilot burner is obstructed by the valve members 22 and 53. To initiate operation of the burner system, the push-button 42 is depressed, moving the core 31 so that its bottom surface is in engagement with the upper surface of core 34, and the supplemental valve in open position. While holding the push-button depressed, the pilot burner is lighted. After a short space of time the thermocouple [6 will be sufficiently heated to cause the generated current to flow in the coil 48 (to which it is directly connected) in an amount sufficient to energize the core 31 and the adjacent portion of core 34 so that they are magnetically retained in engagement against the force of springs 39 and 45. The push-button may now be released. The coil 48 is designed to have relatively high resistance and therefore the flux produced by it is weak and only locally ef- I fective. So the armature 24 is not attracted, even although the bottom surface of the cylindrical core 36 is now in the same plane with the bottom surface of the cup-shaped core 34, adjacent the armature.

As is shown in the diagrammatic view of Fig. 3, the coil 41 is in parallel with coil 48 (through thermostat I 8) across the source. So, if the thermostat is now in circuit closing position, current will also flow in coil 41. This coil is designed to have relatively low resistance and so flux will be produced by it in an amount sufiicient to energize the cores 34 and 36 to attract the armature and open the main valve. If the circuit through coil 41 is opened, the armature will fall, aided by spring 21, as the local fiux produced by current flow in coil 48 is insufficient to retain the armature in its attracted position.

If the pilot burner is extinguished, the resultant cessation of current in both coils permits the armature to fall and the core 31 to be moved upward by its bias outof engagement with core 34, the system remaining inoperative until operation is again initiated as hereinabove described.

With the limited electric power avalable in the system shown, the gap between the armature and the core faces is arranged to be relatively small and may be adjusted by threading the core 34 in or out in the partition 32.

If desired, a separate source of current may be provided for the main coil 41, the same safety features being retained if the holding coil 48 is energized by means responsive to the pilot burner flame. If the pilot burner is extinguished, upon the cessation of the holding current the cylindrical core is lifted to its normal position wherein the cores are ineffective to attract or hold the armature with current flow in coil 41.

While I have herein shown and described the electromagnetic operator of my invention in connection with the control of valve means, it is obviously not so limited, as other means, such as, for example, switching means, could likewise be controlled by it. Further modifications may likewise be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. I intend therefore that my invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application, Serial No. 318,521, filed February 12, 1940.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination: an electromagnet comprising a core, an energizing coil therefore, and an armature; said core being mechanically movable between a first position, wherein when energized by current flow in said coil it is effective to attract said armature through space, and a second position, wherein it is ineffective to attract the armature; and independent electromagnetic means effective when energized to retain said core in its first position only when the same is first mechanically moved to that position.

2. In combination: an electromagnet comprising a core, an energizing coil therefore, and an armature; said core being mechanically movable between a first position, wherein when energized by current flow in said coil it is effective to attract said armature through space, and a second position, wherein it is ineffective to attract the armature; means biasing said core to its second position; and independent electromagnetic means effective when energized to retain said core in its first position against the force of said bias only when the core is first mechanically moved to that position; the respective magnetic circuits of said electromagnet and of said independent electromagnetic means being substantially independent of each other.

3. In combination: a first electromagnet comprising a core, an energizing coil therefore, and an armature; said core being mechanically movable between a first position, wherein when energized by current flow in said coil it is effective to attract said armature through space, and a second position, wherein it is ineffective to attract the armature; means biasing said core to its second position; and a second electromagnet, mechanically connected to the core of said first electromagnet, effective when energized to retain said core in its first position against the force of said bias only when the core is first mechanically moved to that position; the respective magnetic circuits of said electromagnet and of said independent electromagnetic means being substantially independent of each other.

4. In combination: a first electromagnet comprising a first core, an energizing coil therefore, and a first armature; said core being mechanically movable between a first position, wherein when energized by current flow in said coil it is effective to attract said armature through space, and a second position, wherein it is ineffective to attract the armature; means biasing said core to its second position; a second electromagnet comprising 'acore member and an armature member, said core-memb'er being adapted when energized to mechanically retain said armature member in engagement therewith only when the members arefirst mechanically brought together; the respective magnetic circuits of said first and said second electromagnets being substantially independent of each other; means connecting one of said members to said first core; and mechanical means for simultaneously moving the members together and said first core to its first position.

5. In an electromagnetic operator; an elongated mechanically reciprocable core; a first coil surrounding a lower portion of said core; a movable armature positioned adjacent the lower end of said core; said core being mechanically movable from an elevated position, wherein when energized by current flow in said first coil it is ineffective to attract said armature, to a depressed position, wherein it is efiective to attract the armature; means biasing said core to said elevated position; a relatively fixed magnetic member; said core having on its upper portion a portion engageable with said magnetic member when the core is in said depressed position; and a second coil surrounding said upper portion and effective upon passage of current therethrough to magnetize said upper portion so that it is retained in engagement with said magnetic member against the force of said bias when it is first mechanically brought to that position; said second coil being ineffective to energize said core to attract said armature.

6. In an electromagnetic operator; a relatively fixed magnetic member having an opening therethrough; an elongated core mechanically reciprocable in said opening and magnetically spaced from said member; the upper and the lower end portions of said core extending on either side of said magnetic member; a first coil surrounding said lower portion; a movable armature positioned adjacent the lower end of said core; said core being mechanically movable from an elevated position to a depressed position, in which positions said core is respectively ineffective and efiective to attract said armature when the core is energized by current flow in said first coil; means biasing said core to said elevated position; said core having on its upper portion an extended portion engageable with the upper surface of said magnetic member when the core is in said depressed position; and a second coil surrounding said upper portion of the core and effective upon passage of current therethrough to magnetize said upper portion so that its extended portion is retained in engagement with said magnetic member against the force of said bias when it is first mechanically brought to that position; said second coil being inefiective to energize said core to attract said armature.

7. In an electromagnetic operator; a relatively fixed inverted cup-shaped core having an opening through the upper wall thereof; an elongated core mechanically reciprocable in said opening and magnetically spaced from said wall; the upper and the lower end portions of said elongated core extending respectively above said wall and within said cup; a first coil in said cup and surrounding said lower portion; a movable armature positioned adjacent the mouth of said cup; said elongated core being mechanically movable with respect to said fixed core from an elevated position to a depressed position, in which positions the cores are respectively ineffective and efiective to attract said armature when they are energized said movable core to'said elevated positlon; said movable core having'onits upper. end portionan extendedlportion engageable with the upper surface'of said-fixedcore when them'ovable core ls'in saiddepressed position; and a: secondmoil surrounding said upper portion of: the :movable core and effective when current is passed therethrough to magnetize said upper portion so that its extended portion is retained in engagement with said fixed core against the force of said bias when it is first mechanically brought to that position; said second coil being inefiective to energize said cores to attract said armature.

8. In an electromagnetic operator; a first, relatively fixed, inverted cup-shaped core having an opening through the upper wall thereof; an elongated core mechanically reciprocable in said opening and magnetically spaced from said wall; the upper and the lower end portions of said elongated core extending respectively above said wall and within said cup; a first coil in said cup and surrounding said lower portion; a movable armature adjacent the mouth of said cup; said elongated core being mechanically movable with respect to said fixed core from an elevated position, wherein when energized by current fiow in said first coil said cores are ineffective to attract said armature, to a depressed position, wherein the bottom surfaces of said cores are in a. single plane and said armature is attractable thereby when current is passed through said first coil; means biasing said movable core to said elevated position; a second inverted cup-shaped core carried by said movable core on its upper end portion, the mouth of said second cup being engageable with the upper surface of said first cup when the elongated core is in its depressed position; and a second :coil in said second cup and surrounding said upper portion of the elongated core, said second coil being effective when current is passed therethrough to magnetize said second cup so that it is retained in engagement with said first cup against the force of said bias when it is first mechanically brought to that position; said second coil being ineffective to energize said cores to attract said armature.

9. In a fluid control valve; a valve body, means in said body defining a main valve port; a valve member for controlling fluid flow through said main valve port; an inverted cup-shaped core having an opening through the upper wall thereof and fixedly mounted in said body; an elongated core mechanically reciprocable in said opening and magnetically spaced from said wall; the upper and the lower end portions of said elongated core extending respectively above said wall and within said cup; a first coil in said cup and surrounding said lower portion; a movable armature positioned adjacent the mouth of said cup and connected to said valve member; said elongated core being mechanically movable with respect to said fixed core from an elevated position to a depressed position, in which positions the cores are respectively inefiective and effective to attract said armature and thereby operate said valve member when they are energized by current flow in said first coil; means biasing said movable core to said elevated position; said movable core having on its upper end portion an extended portion engageable with the upper surface of said fixed core when the movable core is in said depressed position; a second coil surrounding said upper portion of the movable core and effective when current is passed therethrough uu AALGIEMUULLIC said upper pOlBlOIl so that its extended portion is retained in engagement with said fixed core against the force of said bias when it is first mechanically brought to that position; said second coil being ineifective to energize said cores to attract said armature; means in said body defining a supplemental valve port for passing fluid through the valve; and a supplemental valve member connected to said movable core for controlling fluid flow through the supplemental port in accordance with the position of the mov- WILLIAM A. RAY.

5 able core. 

